Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-09-05
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The Report 1.-THE Investigation at Chica.
go Submitted to the President by the
COmmission-They Dissent from Com
missioner Edgerton's Report.
WASHINGTON Sept. 4

WASHINGTON, Sept.
The civil service commission submitted (
the President the report of its investigation
OF the complaint made by George A. Webster
against Anthony F. Seeberger, collector at
Chicago, and transmitted 10 the President bv
| the civil service reform league of Chicago,
and by him referred to the commission charg
ing violations OF the civil service law.
The report consists of 'sopinon of commits
sion" signed by Commissioners Oberly and
Lyman.
The report to the commission by Commis.
siouer Edgerton and another by Commis
sionef Lyman who confines himself princi
pally to testimoney submitted at the investi
CATION.
The report says that the complaints of
Webster is in substance that he was com
PEELED to resign his place in the appraisers
office in the Chicago customs district. not be-
cause he was inefficient, undutiful, insubor-
dinate, dishonest, or for any other good
cause, but because he was republican.
| The collector denied that he had put a
democrat in his place.
In the complaint Webster says that the
collector informed him that no complaint was
urged against his official conduct and ability
which were excellent, but that owing to great
pressure" 1t was necessary that vacancies
shonld be made, and that the collector said.
you must remember that our party has been
out of power 25 years. You should be very
thankful that you have been allowed to re-
! main two years under democratic admins
tration."
| Webster, the opinion continues, was com
PEELED to resign. Collector Seeberger re-
piled that the request for his resignation was
made for reasons amply strong and that he
had acted in strict conformity with the civil
service law as understood.
| In his testimony before the investigation
Seeberger denied having said anything to
Webster that could be construed into de-
claration that the request for his resignation
was prompted by political reasons
Attention is called to the fact that Webster
was not given the benefit of the law, which
requires that the heads of the executive de-
parment ID making reduction, TO retain
those equally qualified what have been hon
orably discharged soldiers or sailors.
| Webster is an honorably discharged and
wounded soldier, and passed the civil service
customs examination wlth an average of 80
per cent, his conduct and capacity being sat
lsfactory during his probationary term
He was promoted for faithful and efficient
services. lie had strong, honest political
views always held in quite gentlemanly way
keeping always in view the right of others
|
His strong political views, says the opinion
Webster had right to entertain, and during
the time he held public place it was his
right to give at proper times strong express
| sion to those views.
| The opinion suggests that if the rule which
prevails in the treasury department requiring
that reason be given FIR every dismissal or
forced resignation were observed in the
administration of all branches of executive
civil service there would be no difficulty in
arriving at speedy and definite conclusions
upon complaints of the kind under considera-
ton, while appointing officers to have the
right to retain within their own minds and
keeping reasons for removals made by them.
that they may not abuse their power with
shameful impuni,y and in abuses of this kind
remain
The opinion criticises what it terms Com
missioner Edgerton's evident attempt to ius-
tify Collector Seebereer in the refusal to
permit reasons for demanding Websters res
gnation to escape his town mind and keep
| ing" and the position taken by Commiss ioner
Edgerton, that the rules requiring the reasons
| for such removal would result in the restric
| ton ef the power of removal, is pronounced
untenable.
The opinion maintains there is no cause
why reasons should not be given for the re-
moval of good man every way competent
without good cause, why it should subject the
making of removal t. be condemned con-
/ cerning the right of the commission to make
Investigations of the kind conducted at Chi.
cago, agains, the right and policy of which
Commissioner Edgerton makes objection
The opinion says such Investigations result
! in good service in the correction of wrong
methods, sometimes disclosure of evasions
and violations of both law and rules
In conclusion the commission expresses
dissent from Commissioner Edgertons cen
sure of civil service reform leagues and the
association and particularly of the civil ser
vice reform league of Chicago, and says its
observation has disclosed no purpose of anv
of them to antagoniZe the administration or
to in any way embarrass it in the enforcement
of the civil service law and rules. On the
contrary all such leagues and associations
haye shown most earnest desire to support
the commission in the discharge of its duties.